The love and need of having an animal companion sometimes goes much further than the realisation that financial constraints can be a huge stumbling block. Often, pet owners in the communities don’t realise what their responsibilities towards their pets are, or they simply don’t know how to take proper care of their animals.
Education is key
This is where the Society for Animals in Distress (SAID), situated in Vorna Valley, Midrand, comes in. They are more than just a shelter that houses abandoned pets. This animal welfare organisation is a beacon of hope for compromised animals in indigent communities amid the challenges of economic strain and social disparity.
Their heartfelt mission is to bring veterinary care and education to the people who need it most, with mobile units that are staffed with professionals. For SAID, it’s not just about veterinary care, it’s also about playing an educational role to the communities.
“Education is the cornerstone of SAID’s approach. Recognising that poverty’s impact reaches far beyond economic constraints, we strive to empower communities through knowledge and support. It’s a bid to create a ripple effect of awareness and responsible animal ownership and prevent animal cruelty and suffering,” says Meg Harvey, Chief Executive Director at SAID.
Veterinary services
SAID’s own hospital is registered with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) as a mixed animal hospital. This means that the hospital can stabilise and treat all animals. They work on an alimony system, which plays a crucial role, especially in the underprivileged areas. The hospital and equine clinic are accessible to all and provide comprehensive care for the animals they treat. The SAID farm is also home to a number of equine and other farm animals who were either surrendered or rescued from compromised backgrounds.
To ensure that the organisation can help the communities where possible, they have mobile units, which target indigent communities such as Tembisa, Olievenhoutbosch, Winnie Mandela, Ebony Park, Ivory Park and Alexandra. They go wherever there are animals who need their assistance, and they have gone as far as the North West Province.
“Our mobile clinics are dedicated to delivering primary veterinary care to animals in disadvantaged communities, recognising the financial challenges faced by individuals who may struggle to meet their own essential needs, let alone afford the ‘luxury’ of veterinary attention for their animals,” says Meg.
The mobile units also actively engage with communities and help them with animals in need – the sick or injured. These units will collect the animals and transport them to the clinic for the necessary treatment. When the animals have recovered, the animals are returned to their owner with educational information on how to properly take care of the animal.
“Our comprehensive services encompass basic procedures such as sterilisations, vaccinations, microchipping and deworming, as well as more intricate interventions like surgeries and intensive treatments for illnesses and diseases. Often, these services are provided at significantly subsidised rates or even free of charge, contingent on the financial circumstances of the individuals involved. Furthermore, our mobile team actively imparts knowledge on animal welfare and responsible pet ownership during community visits,” says Meg.
Raising funds
To be able to deliver these services to the community, SAID needs funds and therefore has a variety of projects to raise the necessary money. These include:
- SAID’s charity store is called the Barn Shop and serves as a revenue stream when donated goods are resold to the public.
- They have annual initiatives to raise funds, such as a golf day and auction, dog jogs and book sales.
- Committed donors contribute monthly through debit orders.
- The hospital operates on an alimony system, which also brings in some funds.
- Recently, SAID also held a raffle, with the main prize being an MSC cruise, sponsored by MSC and XL Travel. This raffle also raised much-needed funds.
- One of SAID’s most vital sources of income are legacies and bequests.
- The coal yard project is a continuing initiative and has expanded to include various farm animals. This project is mainly in Tembisa, where working equines laboriously pull heavy carts loaded with coal for their owners’ livelihoods. “Unfortunately, these animals often endure improperly crafted and inhumane harnessing, leading to severe injuries left untreated. Owners may attempt to shoe the horses inadequately, causing further issues.
“Our intervention involves educating owners on proper animal welfare practices, providing feed whenever possible, and striving to reduce the workload on these equines. While the question of why these equines aren’t simply removed arises, our approach emphasises education and collaboration with owners for a more sustainable, long-term solution. Extreme cruelty cases prompt decisive action in terms of the law. This project has seen the number of equine used to pull carts being greatly reduced since 2004,” explains Meg.
For the love
“In the heart of SAID, each wagging tail, purring cat and grateful neigh tells a story of compassion, resilience and hope – a narrative inspiring us all to be better stewards of our furry and feathered friends. Here, in the haven created by SAID, every animal finds solace and every human a chance to make a difference,” concludes Meg.
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